Fracture splint



March 1931- J. 1.. PRESTON 1,797,480

FRACTURE SPLIN'I Filed April 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 24, 1931. PRESTON 1,797,480

FRACTURE S PLI NT Filed April 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN LEWIS PRESTON, OF WICI-IITA FALLS, TEXAS FRACTURE SPLINT Application filed April 3, 1929.

The present invention relates to improvements in splints and has reference more particularly to a splint for treating mandibular fractures.

5 One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a fracture splint wherein the same includes complementary trays to receive the upper and lower jaws, said trays being of channel-shaped formation to 10 properly confine the cement or modelling compound therein, additional means being associated with the trays for securing the same together in proper relation when in position within the patients mouth.

A still further object is to provide a fracture splint of the above-mentioned character wherein the uppermost tray is formed with a depending lug at the front portion thereof, said lug providing a means for spacing the 20 trays apart, and further providing a means whereby a detachable handle may be associated therewith for facilitating the insertion or removal of the upper tray.

A further and important object is to pro- 95 videa fracture splint of the above-mentioned character wherein coacting means is arranged at the inner or rear portions of the trays to prevent lateral movement of the trays with respect to each other when positioned in the p atients mouth.

A still further object is to provide a fracture splint of the above-mentioned character that will at all times be positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it 1s desired, the same being further simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In' the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fracture splint embodying my invention showing the complementary trays positioned in the mouth of the patient and illustrating the manner in which said trays are secured together.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view therethrough.

Serial No. 352,264.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the complementary trays secured together.

Figure i is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-i of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the lower tray.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the upper tray showing the manner in which the detachable handle is engaged with the lug.

Figure 7 is a detail showing the slotted handle engaged with the lug.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the model taken of the fracture mandible.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 99 of Figure 8 for more clearly disclosing the fracture; and

Figure 10 is a detail showing the parts of the model cemented together after the same has been sawed through and the line of fracture and the separate parts arranged to assume the normal position of the mandible.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the lower splint tray while the upper splint tray is denoted by the numeral 2. The lower tray is of substantially U-shaped formation provided with the inner and outer marginal flanges 3 and 4 respectively and the base portion 5 whereby a channel-shaped structure is provided. It will also be observed that the marginal flanges are disposed in diverging relation from the base plate 5. I

Formed at each side of the lower splint tray 1 and more particularly in the free end portion of the outer marginal flange 4 are the spaced loops 6, the purpose of which will be presently described. Tire ligatures 7 are attached at one end to the respective loops 6.

A series of teeth 8 extend upwardly from the base plate 5 adjacent the free ends of the U-shaped tray in the manner as clearly suggested in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, and the purpose of these teeth will also be presently apparent.

The upper splint tray 2 includes a base portion 9 having an outer marginal flange 10. The central portion of the base plate 9. is pressed upwardly as indicated at 11 whereby to form a substantially U-shaped channel in the tray between the arched portion 11 and the marginal flange 10 as suggested very clearly in the drawings.

A series of spaced loops 12 similar to the loops 6 are arranged in the marginal flange 10 adjacent the free ends of the subtantially U-shape-d channel and attached to these loops 12 are the wire ligatures 13 that cooperate with the adjacent ligatures of the underlying loops 6 in the manner to be presently described.

Arranged on the bottom of the baseplate 9 at the front portion thereof is the depending lug 14, the bottom face of which is fiat for engagement with the adjacent face of the base plate 5 of the complementary splint tray 1 when the trays are secured together. Suitable longitudinally extending slots 15 are formed in the opposite side of the lug 14 adjacent the connection of the lug with the base plate 9 as indicated more clearly in Figure 3.

A pair of substantially channel-shaped shoes 16 are attached to the bottom face of the base plate 9 directly beneath the free ends in conjunction with the upper splint tray 2 and this handle is formed from a flat strip of metal. The inner end thereof is enlarged and is formed with a slot 19 in order that the furcat-ions may engage with the respective slots 15 formed in the lug 14 and the forward end of the lug will be disposed against the crown of the U-shaped slot 19 when the handle is in its innermost position so that the handle will be secured to the upper tray and the outer end portion of the handle may be grasped to facilitate the insertion or removal of the upper tray.

The use of my improved fracture splint may be briefly stated as follows. At the outset, an impression of the fracturedmandible is taken with any ordinary lower impression tray. Then plaster of Paris is poured in the same and when the model has hardened. the same is removed from the tray and in Figure 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated the model thus formed.

Theline aaindicates the line of fracture. The model 20 is then cut through the line of fracture with a. fine hack saw after which the sections of the cut model are assembled together to assume the normal position of the mandible and then the sections are cemented together in the manner as illustrated in Figure 10.

Subsequently a modelling compound impression is taken on the corrected model shown in Figure 10 with the lower splint tray 1. A modelling compound impression of the upper jaw is also taken by the use of the upper splint tray 2. After impressions of both jaws are properly made, the upper splint tray 2 is held in the mouth of the patient by the use of the detachable handle 18 that is engaged with the slotted lug let.

The lower splint tray 1 is placed in the mouth of the patient by the operator to substantially the proper position on the fractured mandible. The mouth of the patient is then closed to bring the splint trays into normal relation so that the lug 1 1 will engage (1 against the upper face of the base plate 5 of the lower splint tray 1 and at the same time, the teeth will bite into the respective rubber blocks 17. The adjacent pairs of wire ligatures 7 and 13 have their free ends twisted together whereby to secure the splint trays together firmly. The teeth 8 will cooperate with the rubber blocks 17 to prevent lateral displacement of the splint trays with respect to each other while positioned in the mouth of the patient. If necessary, appropriate jaw supports may be applied to the outside of the face to maintain the splint trays further against movement. The splint trays are maintained in the mouth of the patient until the fractured bones have reunited. The patient may be fed by inserting fo'od between the upper and lower splint trays that are spaced apart through the medium of the lug Mas well as the channel-shaped shoes 17.

The simplicity of my device enables the parts to be readily and easily adjusted and with the use of a fracture splint of this character, the broken parts may be properly set so that when the broken bones have reunited, there will not be left any indication that the mandible has been broken.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is: j

l. Afracture splint of the class described adapted to receive the upper'and lower aws comprising separable upper and lower complementary trays, means carried by one of the trays and adapted to contact the other tray for spacing the trays apart, and wire ligatures attached to the outer flanges of the trays for securing the same together, said spacing means being free of connection with said other tray.

2. A fracture splint of the class described comprising separable upper and lower trays adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws, means including a depending lug carried by the front portion of the upper tray for solely contact engagement with the adjacent portion of the lower tray to space said trays apart, and wire ligatures attached to the outer flanges of the trays for securing the same together.

3. A fracture splint of the class described comprising separable upper and lower trays adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws, means including a depending lug carried by the front portion of the upper tray for solely contact engagement with the adjacent portion of the lower tray to space said trays apart, and means carried by the trays for securing the same together, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of wire ligatures connecting the outer flanges of the trays.

4. A fracture splint of the class described comprising separable upper and lower trays adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws, means including depending lugs carried by the upper tray for solely contact engagement with the adjacent portion of the lower tray to space said trays apart, wire ligatures carried by the outer flanges of the trays for securing the same together, and means engaging said lugs for preventing lateral movement of the trays with respect to each other.

5. A fracture splint of the class described adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws,

comprising separable upper and lower trays, each including a base plate having inner and outer marginal flanges, a depending lug carried by the base plate of the upper tray at the front portion thereof for solely contact engagement with the adjacent portion of the base plate of the lower tray to space said trays apart, said lug further providing a 'handle attaching port-ion, additional spacing means at the rear portion of the trays, and wire ligatures carried by the outer flanges of theh separable trays for securing them toget er.

6. A fracture splint of the class" described, comprising separable upper and lower trays, each including a base plate having inner and outer marginal flanges, a. depending lug carried by the base plate of the upper tray at the front portion thereof for engagement with the adjacent portion of the base plate of the lower tray to space said trays apart, said lug further providing a handle attaching portion, additional spacing means at the rear portion of the trays, and means for securing the separable trays together, and means associated with the rear spacing means to prevent lateral movement of the trays with respect to each other.

7. A fracture splint of the class described comprising separable upper and lower trays adapted to receive the upper and lower jaws, a depending lug carried by the front portion 'of the upper tray for engagement with the adjacent portion of the lower tray to space said trays apart, and means carried by the trays for securing the same together, and additional means for preventing lateral movement of the trays with respect to each other,

said last-mentioned means including rubber 

